Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-01-21
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL.

The Interstate Commerce bill,
which passed the Senate by the
Unexpectedly large vote of As to ID,
and which is now awaiting the ac-
ton of the House of Representa-
tives, is in every respect one ofthe
most important measures that has
come up before Congress for years.
1t is Of material interest to every
farmer, every shipper, every bust
ness man, and every one concerned
in the condition of trade and trans
portation. Originally there we're
two bills-a Senate bill and House
bill. The present measure is the
work of a conference committee
composed OF two senators-Cullom,
of Illinois, and Harris, of Tennes'
see-and of three representatives,
Reagan, of Texas; Crisp, of Geor'
gia, and Weaver, OfNebraska-and
is compromise between the Sen
ate bill and the HOuse bill. Its
general value and desirability are
well known, and if it acsomplishes
the results expected of it, 1t will do
a vast deal of good for the whole
country. There is little doubt of
its passage in the House, and it is
quite certain that it will not be
vetoed for President Cleveland
since his term began has never sent
back a big measure like this with
his disapproval, although he has
developed a decided alacrity for
killing small pension bills.
1t is very important that there
shall be a complete and intelligent
understanding of the provisions OF
the bill, since upon such an under
standing the successful working OF
the measure must largely depend.
The only point that is the fourth
section. This says:
"That it shall be unlawful fOr
any common carrier subject to the
provisions of this act to charge or
receive any greater compensation
in the aggregate for the transporta,
ton of passengers or of like kind OF
property, under substantially siml'
lar circumst ances and conditions
for a shorter than for a longer dis
lance over the same line, IN the
same direction, the shorter being
included within the longer dis
lance; but this shall not be con
strued as authorizing any common
carrier, within the terms of this
act, to charge and receive as great
compensation for a shorter as for q
longer distance
The obscure point in this is the
phrase, "under substantially SINH
lar circumstances and conditions
Senator CullOm claims that this re-
fers to such competition as that be
tween railroads and steamboats,
Other senators claim that it Is
meaningless. In any event, OIL
any Interpretation, however, there
can be no doubt that the meaning
can be carried out in this prOviso
which is a continuation of the sec
ton quoted above:
"Provided, however, that upon
application to the commission APP
pointed under the provisions OF
this act, such common carrier may,
in special case, after investigation
by the commission, be authorized
to charge less for longer than for
shorter distances for the tEanspor-
tatiOn of passengers or property !;
and the commission may from time
to time prescribe the extent to
which such designated common
carrier NAV be relieved from the
operation OF this section Of this
act"
So, the whole matter rests wit h
the character and fitness of the
commission, and to its discretion is
given a power that is absolute
This commissiOn-Officially known
as the interstate commerce commits
sion-"shall be composed OF five
commissioners, who shall be APP
pointed by the President, by and
with the advice and consent OF the
Senate" They are to be appointed
for terms of two, three, four, five
and six years respectively, and at
forwards the appointments are to
be for six years. They shall re-
ceive an annual salary Of 1900,
and shall engage in no other bust
ness nor have connection with or
official relation 20 any railrOad.-
They shall be removable for cause,
and not more than three of them
shall be appointed from the same
political party.
1t is, of course, essential that
these commissioners shall be men
of signal ability, long experience
aud unimpeachable integrity The
cause of the bill and the selection
of the men will be watched with
unusual care, tor it is a matter
which concerns the whole people
and the welfare and prosperity OF
the entire country.
Europe Preparing for War.